Saudi crown prince offers full support for Iraq's security

ERBIL: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman on Thursday offered his full support for Iraq’s continued security in a phone call to Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.

“His Highness ... expressed ...full support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Iraq and its support for its permanent security and prosperity,” a statement from Mahdi’s office said.

Saudi Arabia is wooing Baghdad as part of a combined effort with the United States to stem the growing regional influence of Iran, while Iraq is seeking economic benefits from closer ties with Riyadh.



The Iraqi premier welcomed the “development of relations”, the statement said.



In October 2017, two months before Iraq declared victory over Islamic State, the countries established the Iraqi-Saudi Joint Coordination Council, to help rebuild devastated areas retaken from the Islamist militants in Iraq.